Supernova

Summary: In just three months, Shinsou Hitoshi has gone from being an unwanted foster child to someone with a family. When a red-eyed, white-haired little girl is in need of a home, well, who is he to deny her? And Hitoshi quickly falls in love with Eri, regarding the child as the little sister he never had.

But loving someone does not mean that you should take the fall for them.

This fic contains references to corporal punishment (i.e. non-sexual, disciplinary spanking of a minor), and hints of past child abuse. Please do not read if it makes you uncomfortable.

Welcome to the third instalment of the Starlight (Coalescence - Realignment - Supernova) series! This one has been planned for around a month now, but I've finally had the chance (and muse) to work on it. It features big brother Hitoshi and Eri very heavily, with guest appearances from the dads.

Note: This fic is special in the sense that there is no on-screen spanking. It still happens and there are going to be references to it, but the entirety of the act itself is in a cutscene. I didn't feel that it was necessary to write it out, as it doesn't add much to the overall fic – but I hope that you will like the story regardless.

So yes, please enjoy!

"Eri-chan, this is Shinsou Hitoshi. 'Toshi-chan, this is Eri."

Mic-sensei barely pauses before barrelling on, a radiant smile on his face.

"I'm very sure that Shouta has told you about the recent raid he had taken part in?" He waits for Hitoshi to nod before continuing, "Eri-chan's the little girl they rescued, and we just received note that the Commission had agreed to transfer custody to us! She'll likely be living here from now on, so do try to get along, yeah?"

"Err… alright?"

Hitoshi turns away from Mic-sensei in order to study the little girl whose hand is clasped in his foster parent's, unable to help his budding interest. She has large red eyes with wavy white hair that hits mid-back, and a weird-looking horn protruding out of the side of her head. She is also dressed in a tasteful red dress – likely picked out by Mic-sensei, as Aizawa-sensei has no fashion sense, he notes distantly.

But what captures his attention is the part-fearful, part-curious expression on Eri's face. Her grip on Mic-sensei's fingers are near-bruising, the tiny digits holding them so tight that Hitoshi isn't sure how the man isn't pulling away.

It isn't surprising – changes in custody are always a terrifying experience; you wouldn't know how people are going to treat you, Hitoshi realises with a pang, recalling his own experiences.

In his case, most of his foster homes had been awful by virtue of his quirk, and Hitoshi had spent most of his time being subjected to scornful silences, as he struggled to remember the unspoken rules and expectations of the houses he was assigned to.

(He doesn't dwell upon how he always managed to still screw up, and the punishments that followed – it was already in the past.)

But this situation is completely different. The child – Eri – would be safe here with Sensei and Mic-sensei, he thinks in relief. And as the other, older kid in the household, it's up to him to help her settle in, and assist her in understanding this very important fact.

It is with this thought that Hitoshi gets down upon one knee, in order to meet her at eye-level.

"Hello, Eri-chan. My name is Hitoshi, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you," he greets softly, giving her a slight smile. He also extends a hand out, making sure to keep his movements slow so as to not startle her. "Aizawa-sensei and Mic-sensei have also taken me in a few months back, so I know what it's like. You'll definitely have a nice time living with us."

Part of her worry fades with his proclamation, but the curiosity remains.

Mic-sensei gives Hitoshi a proud smile, before turning back to Eri, chirping, "'Toshi-chan here is our son, sweetheart, and he's also one of Shou-chan's students! He's a very good boy, so there's no need to be afraid of him, okay?"

Hitoshi waits patiently as Eri continues to study him, holding his breath when she lets go of his foster parent in favour of reaching for his hand. When the (very tiny and very fragile) hand touches the centre of his palm, he slowly wraps his fingers around it; keeping the hold loose enough for her to break free.

His smile grows wider, as he basks in the feeling of having the tiny warmth – a show of fledging trust – in his hold. It also helps to settle the rest of Eri's worries, as she speaks up for the first time.

"I-Is Hi-Hitoshi-san… Is Hitoshi-san also a H-Hero?" She asks shyly, fingering the edges of her cat-print dress. "Zawa-san said that he t-teaches the Heroes, and you're his s-son and student, so…"

"Ah, well… I'm in Sensei's class and am training to become one, but it will take some time before I get my provisional license." He has to pass the exams first, but Hitoshi doesn't let himself dwell. "Do you like Heroes, Eri-chan?"

"Y-Yes! I l-love Heroes!" Her tiny face lights up, and he is struck by how bright and innocent her smile is. It makes her appear like a completely different person; like a child that has never gone through unspeakable pain.

"You do?" he croaks out, the surge of affection inducing a lump in his throat. "What do you like about them?"

"Um, I l-like how b-brave and strong they are! And um, also…"

Eri starts chattering on, gradually growing more relaxed as Hitoshi continues to coax her. The child is absolutely adorable, and he finds himself growing fonder with every bashful question and awed stare.

(He hasn't realised it yet, but at that moment, Hitoshi has already made it a life mission to make Eri smile as much as he can.)

A few minutes pass before Hitoshi starts, remembering all of a sudden that the two of them aren't alone. He raises his eyes above Eri's head in an attempt to seek out his blond parent.

He doesn't have to look for long; Mic-sensei is leaning against the wall of the staff lounge, lips stretched into a huge grin and his phone pointing at… them? The blond's expression shifts into something resembling sheepish as he registers Hitoshi's clear incredulity.

What are you doing? Hitoshi mouths.

Don't worry about it! Keep talking to her, you're doing great! Mic-sensei waves him off, eyes twinkling as the man lifts his camera phone up again. Hitoshi sighs, resigning himself to the fact that there would be dozens more pictures of him in their family chat later.

But as he turns back at a still-blabbering Eri, whose face is flushed with excitement as she talks about her favourite Heroes, Hitoshi decides that he couldn't bring himself to care.

Hitoshi would say that Eri's assimilation into the Aizawa-Yamada household is going nicely.

It has only been three weeks since their first meeting, but the little girl has already loosened up plenty; daring to ask questions openly and giving her input without prompting. To Hitoshi's pleasure, she has also been smiling and laughing a lot more, and the childlike glee on her face has been a pleasure to witness.

And it is obvious that Aizawa-sensei and Mic-sensei is just as elated about her progress; both of their guardians have been, for lack of a better word, smitten with Eri. Sensei spends a couple of hours teaching Eri basic math and hiragana daily, while taking the time to alleviate any worries she might have kept quiet on throughout the day.

Mic-sensei, for his part, is completely and utterly besotted; the little girl seems to permanently reside on his shoulders whenever he's at home, filling the air of their four-room apartment with excited squeals. And Hitoshi has already lost count on the number of pretty dresses and colourful snacks the man had procured for his, in his words, 'precious angel of a daughter'.

There was a part of him that was envious of the attention the child is getting, but Hitoshi had quickly stomped it down. Sensei and Mic-sensei is merely giving Eri the same care as they did with him, and it's not like they are neglecting Hitoshi. On the contrary, their parents have insisted on spending more time with both of their wards for 'proper bonding', leading to an increase in shared meals and activities.

He finds himself contemplating more about the little girl during his bi-weekly training session with Aizawa-sensei, when his teacher brings up the topic.

"You've been taking all of this rather well."

Hitoshi looks up from his water bottle to Sensei, who is glancing at him evenly. "What do you mean…?" He asks, consciously tacking on the questioning lilt at the end.

It has been three months since Hitoshi had started living with his teachers, and Hitoshi is still working on breaking his own habit of not asking adults questions. The slow progress is honestly frustrating, but at least Sensei seems to appreciate his effort; judging from the approving quirk of the man's lips.

"Eri." Sensei clarifies. "Hizashi and I had thought that you would be uncomfortable with another child in the house, but it doesn't appear to be the case. I'm surprised that you have taken to her that quickly."

"I like kids, they were usually the only ones that dared to talk to me. In my old foster homes, I mean." And they didn't judge Hitoshi, only regarded him with the same innocent curiosity typical of toddlers – until they were dissuaded by their foster parents.

"Hitoshi –"

"A-And Eri-chan is very sweet!" He hurriedly adds, not liking the sad frown on his Sensei's face. "Plus, she needs a family, and I know what it's like to be scared and alone, that's all."

"Hitoshi." Sensei says more firmly, and Hitoshi's mouth snaps shut. "There's nothing wrong with what you're doing. I'm extremely pleased that the both of you are getting along so well."

"I… okay. I just want her to be happy." He admits softly.

And this is the complete truth. Whenever Hitoshi looks at Eri, the most prominent feeling that arises is this desire to protect, and to give her the happiness she deserves. And he is also grateful for the opportunity to pass on the kindness his teachers have shown him to another kindred soul.

"And you're already doing a great job, kid. She's just as comfortable with you as she is with us, or even more so. Eri is fortunate to have an older brother like you." Sensei responds. His mentor is as gruff as always; but the affection in those grey eyes is impossible to miss, and Hitoshi has to duck his head in order to hide his flush.

"Old… Older brother?"

He tests the words slowly. They linger on his tongue, alien but not awkward. In fact, it sits right – akin to a key turning in its lock; an undeniable truth sliding into place.

Sensei appears to catch upon his newfound realisation, his foster parent shifting closer in order to squeeze his shoulder.

"It's only logical, kid. She looks up to you the way one does with their older sibling, and you obviously adore her like a younger sister. And both of you are mine and Hizashi's, in the only way that matters."

Hitoshi has to duck his head, too overwhelmed by the earnestness in impossibly gentle grey eyes. Not to mention the gratefulness that surges; reminding him once again of how lucky he is, to get the family he has always yearned for.

"I… I like living with the three of you, too. You and Mic-sensei are nice and you guys care, and Eri-chan's so adorable and she's suffered for so long… Now, all I want to protect her." He admits softly.

"I'm glad, Hitoshi. We are very fortunate to have you in our lives, too. You and Eri have brought Hizashi and I a lot of joy."

"… Thanks, Sensei."

There is a moment of comfortable silence, before Sensei's contented expression shifts into something cooler.

"Since we're done talking and you have sufficiently cooled down, shall we continue?"

Ah, there goes his soft parent – once again replaced by his devil of a mentor.

Hitoshi takes one last swig of his bottle, before setting it aside and following his teacher to the centre of the gym. Sensei moves into a deceptively relaxed stance, before calling out to Hitoshi in a sleepy, 'don't waste my time' kind of tone.

"Two more rounds, kid. Don't get cocky just because I've complimented you a couple of times." Sensei drawls.

It has been way more frequent than that; Sensei being surprisingly generous with praise. But Hitoshi doesn't bother correcting his mentor – merely giving a cheeky grin as he shifts into an offensive position.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Sensei."

"Hitoshi-san, I have a question…"

Hitoshi glances up from his Ethics homework to stare at his little sister, who has a determined look on her face. The both of them are in their parents' apartment in the staff dorms, where Hitoshi has been requested to watch over his sibling as Mic-sensei has to go in to his agency, and Sensei needs to attend his meeting with the Heroics department.

"We can get Togata-kun or even Midoriya-kun, if you're busy," Mic-sensei had offered last night, while he was checking through Hitoshi's English assignment. "But I know that Eri would prefer to have you around."

"I think we'll be fine; I have nothing else going on." Hitoshi said, correcting the mild mistakes his parent pointed out. "I can bring my work back here, and see if I can find something to do with Eri-chan. She did mention that she wanted to read some of the storybooks you and Sensei bought for her last week…"

The ruffling of his hair elicits a squeak, but it was Mic-sensei's proud look and sincere praise that turns him red.

"You really are such a good older brother, my darling listener. Eri-chan is so lucky to have you."

The memories of last week's training with Aizawa-sensei and yesterday's conversations come to the forefront, and he instantly shifts into his newly dubbed 'older-brother' mode.

"What is it, Eri-chan?" he asks, voice welcoming.

"Can we…um…." Eri hesitates, warring with herself before pushing through. "Can we… make candy apples?"

"Candy… apples?" He repeats, not certain if he has heard things correctly. Hitoshi knows that Eri's favourite fruit is apples, and their parents always made sure to stock their fridge with plenty of them. "What are they, Eri-chan?"

Her eyes brighten. "They are apples, but huuuge and covered with something sweet and sticky! Deku-san said it was to-toff –"

"Toffee?"

"Uh-huh! He bought me one during the f-festival, and it was yummy! But Aizawa-san said that they are only s-sold in festivals like those. I was sad, but I told Mirio-san and he said that they are e-easy to make?"

"Let me see." It doesn't take long for him to dig up a recipe for fairly standard-looking candy apples, and Hitoshi takes a moment to read the instructions. "Hmm… they do look fairly simple, Eri-chan. You said that you would like to make them?"

"C-Can we…?"

The hope in her voice is poignant, and Hitoshi finds himself agreeing. "Sure, why not. We'll need to see if we have the ingredients, though."

It is a simple matter to lift Eri into his arms, and Hitoshi is gratified when she barely flinches. Call him sappy, but he really is glad that his little sister is already comfortable enough with Hitoshi to ask him for the things she wants.

A frown forms when he opens up the cupboards, and there aren't any candy melts or even substitutes like chocolate in sight. Hitoshi tells the bad news to Eri, who fiddles with a lock of hair before giving a suggestion.

"We can go to the supermarket to get some? Yama-chan says that everything food can be found t-there!"

He is about to agree, when he recalls Mic-sensei's instructions. While his blond parent didn't set a lot of rules – trusting Hitoshi to call the shots – he has made it clear that he wants both of his kids to remain at the apartment.

"Ever since the rise of the League of Villains, there has been an exponential increase in villain activity and other crime in Musutafu. I know you are already a Hero student, and trust me when I say that Shouta and I are amazed and proud of your progress, but we would still prefer for you to stay home unless you have a trained Hero to accompany you."

Back then, Hitoshi had seen no issues with it. In fact, he found it logical, and hence gave his agreement without fuss.

That line of thinking still hasn't changed, and he gently explains the situation. "… that's why it's dangerous for us to be out now, Eri-chan. We don't want to be stuck in a situation where we are targeted by villains and there isn't any backup. Maybe I can give Aizawa-sensei a call, and we can ask him to get the ingredients on his way home?"

To Hitoshi's consternation, instead of getting a sad but acquiescing 'okay', his little sister's face scrunches up; her eyes narrowing and lips turning down. The horror increases tenfold when he sees the beginnings of tears.

"B-But Hitoshi-san has already said yes! I want c-candy apples now!" she yells, scrunching his shirt up within tiny fists.

Shit. Is Eri throwing an actual tantrum?

"Eri-chan, please calm down," he stutters, bewildered. "W-We can call Aizawa-sensei and maybe ask –"

"No! I wanna go to the 'market!"

Dread pools in his gut when he catches sight of Eri's horn, which has swelled up to twice its usual size with no signs of stopping. Hitoshi knows that it happens whenever she's going through huge amounts of stress, and since Rewind's strength is dependent on the size of said horn…

He really doesn't want to risk damage to the apartment or god forbid, be unmade if her distress continues to build. Plus, Hitoshi truly wants to let Eri have what she wants; the little girl has already gone through too much as a five-year-old, and it is only a short trip.

Sensei and Mic-sensei doesn't even need to know; the both of them can simply sneak out and be back in no time.

"Alright, alright," he relents, relieved when Eri immediately quietens down. Her horn has also fortunately stopped growing. "We can go to the supermarket. But only for a little while, okay? We'll buy the things we need, and then we'll have come straight home."

"O-Okay." She sniffles, but her expression brightens. Hitoshi deftly cleans Eri's face with a damp paper towel before leading her to the genkan, slipping her shoes atop tiny feet.

"You can't tell Aizawa and Mic that we went out, alright? It will be our little secret." he repeats, miming a shushing gesture.

"O-Okay!" Eri says, beaming. The last of Hitoshi's doubts eases, and he grabs his wallet and keys before leaving the house.

It's only a fifteen-minute grocery run, he tells himself, Eri's hand securely clasped in his own. Their parents are still at work, and it is the middle of the day – hardly a prime time for villain activity.

Nothing will go wrong, right?

Nope. Nope, nope, nope.

Hitoshi takes everything back. Literally everything has gone to hell in the past hour.

He is certain that there is indeed something wrong with him – a curse that prevents things from ever going his way. Today's incident is another piece of evidence that supports his theory.

"Of all the things that you could have done –"

Right now, he is back with Eri and Mic-sensei in their living room, both of them standing in front of their livid parent. The man is currently in the midst of delivering a scalding lecture, and Hitoshi can only keep his head bowed and silently accept the chastening.

"Didn't I already tell the both of you to stay home? There has been so much unrest going on in the area recently; it's so dangerous to go out without an adult chaperone, little listeners!" Mic-sensei scolds, even though the latter half of the statement is more directed at Hitoshi.

He can't blame the man for being upset – Hitoshi himself is still shocked by what happened.

Bang!

Hitoshi quickly turned his head from the selection of candy melts and to the direction of the loud sound.

The shopping basket fell onto the ground with a loud 'Clack!'.

"Hitoshi-san, what's that…?" Eri asked shakily.

"Shit…" He breathed, taking in the smoke and debris in the once immaculate street. Hitoshi immediately grabbed Eri and pulled her close as people started screaming and making their way out into the streets, worried about being separated.

"Eri, we got to go!" Hitoshi whisper-yells, tugging at her wrist. But there wasn't any give, and he cursed upon realising that she was petrified.

Hitoshi quickly scoops his little sister into his arms, but the damage was already done. The precious few seconds that they had wasted was enough for the villain to break into the store.

It was immediately discernible that they were a mutant class – with body features alike to that of a praying mantis. There were two feelers protruding from the top of their head, and long, slender legs similar to the animal they were based on.

But their most dangerous feature would be the sharp, metal blades they have in place of arms, which Hitoshi concluded was a feature of their quirk.

"Eh, everyone left ~? That's no fuuuun ~"

The creature whined, casually sweeping their arm across a store shelf. It sliced through like a hot knife with butter, and the crashing of the provisions onto the ground made Eri whimper in fright.

Which, to Hitoshi's horror, captured their enemy's attention.

"Oooh, what's this ~ ?"

Stilted yellow eyes ran over their stiff form, and Hitoshi forced himself into a defensive position when the creature stalked across like a predator would prey.

"A U.A. student, and a little brat, huh. I guess that you two would make a fine example – GAHHH!" Their spiel was cut short by a loud screech, and they were suddenly blasted across the room and into the concrete wall before collapsing onto the ground in a broken heap.

"Suck it, you insect! That's what you get for being creepy, and hurting innocent people!" A distressingly familiar voice crowed. "Don't you worry now, little listeners, you guys are saf – H-Hitoshi… and Eri?! What are you two doing here?"

Hitoshi's blood turned to ice when he registers Mic-sensei, who looks to be both relieved and horrified.

The man then took time to calm the both of them down, in particularly Eri who had burst into tears from the shock. Their foster father was painstakingly thorough; taking the time to ensure that they did not sustain any injuries and making sure that there wasn't any residue trauma.

However, Hitoshi finds himself quickly missing the gentle ministrations – it sure beats being scolded. Honestly, what are the odds that his parent's agency was the one that was notified, and that Mic-sensei himself was sent to dispatch the villain?

"And what exactly was the reason for the disobedience, kiddos?" His parent asks, exasperated.

Hitoshi clears his throat, preparing to launch into a detailed recount of the events that has transpired.

The words die on his lips when he catches sight of Eri.

Her scared expression sends him back, to a time before the Hero course and getting adopted. Rationally, Hitoshi knows that Mic-sensei (and Aizawa-sensei) wouldn't be cruel to Eri, and that they would simply teach her right from wrong – the way they did with him.

But he knows full well that no matter how much you trust an adult, all those instances become secondary in the face of unyielding terror. And it is a dozen times more terrifying to be called out as a helpless child.

And Hitoshi really doesn't want his little sister to go through anything like that – considering her past, even if the price to pay is a more severe punishment. His backside is already tingling with dread, but he swallows down the hesitance and readies himself to pay penance.

"It is all my fault, Mic-sensei," Hitoshi says smoothly, drawing their attention, "I brought her out because I wanted to get something and I didn't want to leave Eri-chan alone."

"…You, 'Toshi-chan?"

"Yes, sir."

"What did you have to get that couldn't wait, kiddo?" Mic-sensei asks in disbelief. Hitoshi couldn't blame him – it is very rare for him to disobey his parents, especially after being told specifically to not do something.

Hitoshi can feel Eri tensing up under his hand, and gives her shoulder a small, reassuring squeeze. Please keep quiet and let me handle this, he conveys, twitching as his fingers curl around said appendage. God, even her shoulder is tiny – their parents have been feeding her lots of nutritious foods, but Eri still feels as small and breakable as she did during their first meeting a few weeks ago.

Yeah, that seals it – there is no way Hitoshi can bring himself to allow Eri to go on the chopping block. He meets his foster-parent's (very stern, he notes warily) gaze head on, quickly coming up with an explanation.

"The other students in 1-A have been talking about this new game, and I really felt like trying it out. And I didn't want to wait till the weekend to head to the mall, so I've decided to go just now since I had the extra time. We passed by the supermarket on our way home, and thought to purchase a few snacks. I didn't know things would have turned out like this." The lie weighs heavily upon his tongue, but he presses on, "I'm sorry for my actions, Mic-sensei."

"Is that true, Eri-chan?"

"…Uh-huh."

Her compliance elicits an internal sigh of relief. Mic-sensei is about to say something, but is stopped by the opening of their apartment door.

"Welcome home, Shou-chan!"

Aizawa-sensei toes off his boots, before shuffling towards the three of them.

"Hey. Sorry I didn't respond to your message earlier, 'Zashi; I was on a call with Nezu. Hmm –"

Sensei pauses and gives the situation an assessing glance, and Hitoshi cannot help but shiver when the cool gaze brushes over his tense form. Fortunately, his other parent doesn't say anything to him; merely lifting Eri up and carrying her into her bedroom.

"Let's give Hizashi and Hitoshi some privacy, Eri. They have some things that they need to discuss."

"W-Would 'Toshi-san be okay…?" Hitoshi hears Eri ask softly, and couldn't resist giving her a weak smile when she turns worried eyes at him from her perch on Sensei's shoulder.

"He'll be fine. Hizashi is just going to discipline him for his irresponsible behaviour, but that is nothing for you to worry about. Let's draw you a bath and then we can read a story together after…"

The click of the door closing might as well be a death knell.

"Come over here, little listener."

The disappointment in Mic-sensei's tone causes his heart to clench, but he forces himself to meet his eyes straight on – the older man deserves that much. Though, he cannot help his distressed whimper when his parent takes his slacks down to his knees.

You're doing this for Eri, Hitoshi mentally chants as his underwear is also pulled down to mid-thigh. This is for her sake, so just suck it up!

He stays silent as he is guided over the older man's thighs, shivering when the cool air brushes against his bared backside. Hitoshi's nudity is made more prevalent when his shirt is purposefully folded up his back, and he jumps when a warm hand rests upon an exposed cheek.

"Are you comfortable, kiddo?"

"Y-Yes, sir."

Mic-sensei sighs resignedly. "Good. I don't see the need to give you a lecture on what you already know, 'Toshi-chan, so let's not waste any more time. Brace yourself, my little listener."

"Shh, shh, it's all over, kiddo. We're done."

Hitoshi faintly registers the sound of something placed on the sofa, but is too distraught to care. All he can think about is the blazing furnace in his backside and thighs, which still burns as brightly as when Mic-sensei was administering his corrective measures.

"I-I'm s-sorry, Mic-sensei!"

"I know, 'Toshi-chan. You've taken your spanking very well, and I'm so proud of you. Take a moment to calm down, okay sweetie?"

Hitoshi nods, taking a few minutes to calm his breathing down, using the comforting pressure upon his back as a grounding tool.

He sobs harder when his briefs are returned to their rightful place, his trousers having since been kicked off sometime during the awful spanking. Which is honestly a blessing, because even the idea of having the scratchy fabric against his sore backside is enough to send him into another crying fit.

"I'm going to help you up now, my sweet boy."

Hitoshi continues to cough and cry into the crook of Mic-sensei's neck, from when he is lifted upright after what was one hell of a blistering. While it was nowhere as awful as the spanking he had gotten from stealing, his teacher did not hold back at all in making his displeasure known.

He will definitely be getting rid of his hairbrush at the earliest opportunity.

His parent continues to shush and console Hitoshi, until his cries quieten to sniffles. But unlike the last two times, something stops him from basking in Mic-sensei's comfortable hug; instead, he detangles himself the moment his parent's grip relaxes.

"Darling, what's wrong?" The blond asks, keeping a hold on his forearms when he tries to pull away. The hands that spared no efforts in wearing out his behind are now ridiculously gentle, and Hitoshi wants so badly to lean in.

But even that thought worsens the sudden, awful feeling churning in his gut, and Hitoshi shakes his head.

"N-Nothing, sir. I'm tired, and I j-just want to t-take a nap, that's all."

He warbles softly, his feet reduced into blobs of beige under his tearful eyes. Mic-sensei doesn't seem to buy it, the man pushing Hitoshi's chin up in order to better study him.

"Are you angry at me, 'Toshi-chan? You can be honest with me, sweetheart – I won't be upset. But I need you to understand that I did not enjoy disciplining you at all, but you can't go around disobeying my rules on a whim, baby. I… I cannot imagine what could have happened if I didn't get there in time."

The pain on his foster father's face and voice almost causes him to reconsider, but the need to be alone emerges victorious.

"It's not that, Mic-sensei. I promise that I'm not angry with you or at anything. I'm just… r-really tired."

Hitoshi holds his breath, willing his teacher to believe him – any more pressing and he would fold like wet tissue.

(He ignores the other half that yearns for his father to call him out on his bullshit.)

"…Alright, sweetie. If you insist." Mic-sensei finally says, allowing his hands to fall to his sides. Hitoshi tries not to miss the contact. "Go ahead and have a good rest, and I'll see you in the morning. And baby," the older man pauses, giving him one final kiss on the forehead, "if you change your mind and decide that you want your papa, do not hesitate to look for me. Okay?"

"O…Okay. Goodnight, Mic-sensei." Hitoshi murmurs.

"Goodnight, 'Toshi-love."

It only takes a few minutes for Hitoshi to change into comfier clothes and collapse onto his bed. The excitement from the day has coalesced into a ginormous ball of exhaustion, and he no longer has the energy to move.

But being alone enables his mind to freely wander, and fresh tears form in Hitoshi's eyes as he is immersed within the agony that has festered into something much bigger than a temporary bout of sadness.

You did it, he tells himself. You have done what you had set out to do – to protect Eri like a good, big brother. So why are you still unhappy with the outcome?

If only Hitoshi has an answer.

Next chapter will hopefully be up in the next two weeks! Reviews are beloved.

Thank you so much for reading!
With love,

Xenny